Right here’s a formidable stat—Golf Care ambassador Bernard Gallacher has attended each Ryder Cup event since 1969.
Be it as a participant, captain, vice-captain to Tony Jacklin, radio commentator or particular visitor, Gallacher has worn many Ryder Cup hats, because it had been.
In his personal phrases, listed here are a handful of Ryder Cup venues which have stood out to him over time…
Royal Birkdale
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1965, 1969
I’ve particular recollections right here for apparent causes.
The 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale was the primary I ever performed in. I used to be simply 20, which on the time, made me the event’s youngest-ever participant.
The course at Birkdale is lengthy and troublesome, with an excellent final gap par 5, which finishes in entrance of the iconic clubhouse.
That event in 1969 can also be extensively remembered for Jack Nicklaus conceding an 18-inch putt to Tony Jacklin within the final match to make sure the competitors led to a tie. That is nonetheless thought-about considered one of sport’s biggest gestures even at this time.
Muirfield (AKA: The Honourable Firm of Edinburgh Golfers)
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1973
One other of my favorite Ryder Cup venues, Muirfield, is an
iconic course on the south banks of the Firth of Forth, about 20 miles from Edinburgh.
The course is at all times in glorious situation, with slender fairways, extraordinarily penal tough, deep bunkers, and faultless greens. Jack Nicklaus gained his first Open at Muirfield largely utilizing a 1-iron off the tee.
I performed within the Ryder Cup in 1973 right here, and though we began properly, we had been crushed by the higher aspect ultimately. Personally, my week was spoiled by meals poisoning after the opening day, which pressured me to take a seat out on the second day—disappointing for my accomplice, Brian Barnes, and me, particularly contemplating our robust begin on day one.
Laurel Valley, Pennsylvania
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1975
Arnold Palmer was co-owner right here and captained the US aspect to
a snug victory on residence turf in 1975. I assume you would class it as one
of probably the most iconic Ryder Cup venues for that cause alone!
It’s a parkland course with gentle fairways, thick tough and intensely quick greens, which the European aspect discovered troublesome, contributing to our defeat.
Regardless of Arnold captaining the American aspect, I bear in mind the match being fairly poorly attended—primarily due to the course’s remoteness and exclusivity. However, I nonetheless discovered it an incredible expertise personally, and it was good to see the place Arnold grew up.
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1961, 1977
Royal Lytham & St Annes is one other stunning seaside course
and one of many nice Ryder Cup venues of yesteryear.
The strategically-placed bunkers off the tee make it a troublesome
driving course. The entrance 9 heads away from the clubhouse, and the again 9 heads
again, so relying on the wind, one half will at all times be check. Unusually,
the opening gap is a troublesome lengthy par 3.
Curiously, the 1977 Ryder Cup right here was the final time a Britain and Eire-only crew competed for the title. It switched to Staff Europe from 1979 onwards, on Jack Nicklaus’ advice.
PGA Nationwide Golf Membership, Palm Seashore Florida
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1983
The 1983 event in Florida was my final enjoying Ryder Cup
after that includes in eight consecutive tournaments—I had innings, as they are saying!
Tony Jacklin captained the European aspect, and Jack Nicklaus captained the US that yr.
This well-known course has hosted a number of large tournaments.
Apart from the Ryder Cup, it has hosted 19 consecutive PGA Seniors, in addition to the
PGA Championships in 1987.
You possibly can say it’s a ‘typical’ Floridian golf course; pretty large gentle fairways, troublesome Bermuda grass tough, loads of water hazards and speedy greens. There’s at all times a robust wind, too, which makes enjoying circumstances difficult. We misplaced narrowly by some extent that yr, however the match proved to be a turning level sooner or later fortunes of the European crew.
The Belfry
Hosted the Ryder Cup: 1985, 1989, 1993, 2002
Lastly, we have now the Belfry—simply my favorite Ryder Cup course and venue. It ticks all of the bins to host a profitable, thrilling occasion. The stadium design is good for spectators.
The course itself teases the gamers on the entrance 9, with just a few troublesome water holes—however it grows harder because the spherical progresses, beginning with the signature 10th gap, after all, the place Seve memorably hit the island inexperienced together with his tee shot in 1985.
It climaxes with some of the demanding ending holes in golf—a troublesome tee shot over water and an extended second shot to a tiered inexperienced. Who may presumably neglect Christy O’Connor’s 2-iron over water on the final to beat Fred {Couples} and safe a drawn match in 1989!?
A profitable Ryder Cup wants a robust infrastructure, and
The Belfry is second to none in that respect. Dave Thomas designed the course particularly
to host the Ryder Cup.
As everyone knows, Tony Jacklin’s impressed captaincy in 1985 produced the primary European Ryder Cup win since Lindrick in 1957—almost 30 years—with Sam Torrance holing the successful putt in opposition to Andy North, triggering wild celebrations in Warwickshire.
Obtained Ryder Cup fever? You would possibly need to take into account defending your self and your gear with specialist golf insurance coverage earlier than heading out for a spherical.
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